Front Row Weekly

Harry Belafonte talks about his music and his work as a civil activist. Hilary Mantel on her new book, Bring up the Bodies; Richard Ford discusses his latest book, Canada and rapper Professor Green on life in the limelight. And an appreciation of Swiss writer Friedrich Dürrenmatt.

Writers John Irving and Michael Morpurgo talk about their new novels. Singer and songwriter Rumer discusses her new album. The rapper Plan B aka Ben Drew talks about his feature film debut and the artist Tracey Emin discusses her exhibition of new works at the Turner Contemporary in Margate. And Singer Patti Smith reveals what inspired the songs on her new album Banga

Rolf Harris on his art; novelist Joanne Harris; John Simm talks about his return to the stage; Game of Thrones author George RR Martin; actors on how to convincingly play drunk and writers of high-profile TV series discuss how to write a final episode.

Danny De Vito discusses his comedy double-act with Richard Griffiths; Sacha Baron Cohen's new film The Dictator is reviewed. Writers Paul Abbott and Sean Conway discuss their new TV series Hit & Miss. John Wilson meets singer Kevin Rowland and reviews ball-gowns at the V&A and Kirsty Lang goes down to the Brighton Festival and up a towering Olympic art-work.

Hilary Mantel on her new novel Bringing Up the Bodies; director Tim Burton; pianist Mitsuko Uchida; Damon Albarn in his studio; actress Maxine Peake; Trainspotting screenwriter and playwright John Hodge & comedian and actress Isy Suttie.

Mark Haddon on new novel The Red House; violinist Maxim Vengerov; Leonardo Da Vinci's anatomical drawings; British actress Tracie Bennett plays Judy Garland on Broadway; actor Jason Isaacs and the South Sudan Theatre Company.

Actress Barbara Windsor reflects on her career; Michael Frayn discusses his new novel Skios and Playwright Mark Ravenhill reads his new sonnet commissioned to mark Shakespeare’s birthday; playwright Enda Walsh and actor Cillian Murphy talk about Misterman; The Brodsky Quartet celebrate their 40th birthday this year and Harry Shearer on Nixon.

Lyricist Tim Rice, therapist and TV personality Pamela Stephenson, actor David Suchet, dancer Tamara Rojo, writer Irvine Welsh on his Trainspotting prequel and journalist Stanley Booth on touring with the Rolling Stones.

John Wilson talks to comedian Dara O Briain about his new mathematical TV series and to Whit Stillman about his new film, Damsels in Distress. Mark Lawson talks to Clive James about his new collection of poems and reports on how the life of Anne Frank has inspired a range of new writing. He also talks to West End theatre producers about the economimcs of putting on a show

Damien Hirst at the Tate Modern; Michael Grade on broadcasting; TV series Undateables; rapper Labrinth; Graham Coxon on Blur's Olympic gig in August author Tom Holland and Thomas Campbell, British director of the Metropolitan Museum.